Pitching dominates Giants' 2014 Draft board

SAN FRANCISCO -- They own the third-lowest team ERA in the Majors, so finding quality pitching isn't much of an issue for the Giants these days.

But in baseball, more so than in any other professional sport, teams draft with a focus on the future rather the present. That might explain the Giants' selections this weekend in the First-Year Player Draft.

San Francisco selected right-hander Tyler Beede from Vanderbilt with their first-round pick (14th overall).

Beede went 8-7 with a 3.20 ERA and struggled a bit with his control this past season as a junior. In 2013, as a sophomore, he had a 2.10 ERA and was a 14-game winner.

From MLB.com's scouting report:

"When Beede is at his best, he can display three above-average pitches. His fastball usually operates around 92-94 mph and can clock as high as 97. His sharp curveball and his changeup both arrive in the low 80s, playing off his fastball well. The biggest question with Beede is whether he'll be able to harness his quality stuff. His delivery can get out of sync. He can be unhittable but also has problems finding the strike zone."

The Giants aren't the first team to use a first-round pick on Beede, who left roughly $2.5 million on the table when he declined to sign with Toronto after the 2011 Draft.

His gamble paid off, as the 14th pick of this year's Draft is slotted for $2,613,200.

The selection of Beede proved to be a sign of things to come, as San Francisco used 21 of its 40 selections on pitchers.

But they also added a batterymate for their new arms, selecting catcher Aramis Garcia from Florida International in the second round.

From the scouting report on Garcia:

"Garcia has developed into one of the best college catchers in the country. He earns praise for his makeup and intelligence, traits that helped him win the 2013 Sun Belt Commissioner's Award for his athletic and academic achievements. Garcia has a mature approach at the plate and makes contact well with his short, compact stroke. His swing is more geared to hitting line drives, but scouts believe he can add more strength to his lean frame and hit for more power as a result. Though scouts prefer his bat to his glove, Garcia is a solid defender."

The Giants looked to the outfield for their third-round pick, taking Oregon State's Dylan Davis. Davis' mother defeated breast cancer 15 years ago, and her journey has served as inspiration throughout his life.

"Looking back at that right now and seeing what she's been through, it's helped my experience being able to work and cherish what I'm able to do," Davis said on Friday. "She's really showed me and my dad just how you can do anything if you work hard enough for it."

The Giants' Draft had a local flavor, as 12 of their picks were prospects from California colleges or high schools.

The familiarity extended beyond location, as a recognizable name appeared late on the team's list of selections: Benito Santiago Jr., the son of the former Giants backstop and five-time All-Star, selected in the 38th round.

MLB.com on the young Santiago:

"Santiago is built like a catcher and has good athleticism behind the plate. He has a strong arm, blocks balls well and is a confident receiver. Santiago's bat isn't as advanced as his glove. He has an inside-out swing and barrels up balls well. Santiago's approach lends itself more to hitting line drives than driving the ball. He earns praise for his leadership and understanding of the game."